Printing surface for open mesh bags



April 5, 1955 w, R, ELsAs 2,705,517

PRINTING SURFACE FOR OPEN MESH BAGS Filed May 3, 1950 INVENTOR.

United States Patent O PRINTING SURFACE FOR OPEN MESH BAGS William R. Elsas, Atlanta, Ga.

Application May 3, 1950, Serial No. 159,787

6 Claims. (Cl. 1501) Genetically this invention relates to a paper or like means for providing a legible printing surface for open mesh bags, but more especially it is directed to a paper or like encircling band non-removably applied to the inner surface of the bag and constitutes a continuation in-part of my co-pending application, Serial Number 126,579, filed November 10, 1949, for Printing Surface for Open Mesh Bags, and subsequently abandoned.

While the encircling paper band, in accordance with said application Serial Number 126,579 as applied to the outer surface of an open mesh bag, has proven eminently satisfactory as a printing surface, in practice it has been found that being superimposed, said band tends to scuff and tear to some extent and show soilage under the rough usage incident to handling the filled bags so that they do not present a satisfactory appearance on delivery. Further, the band extending above the surface of the bag when subjected to the effects of moist weather conditions and when engaging wet surfaces in course of handling, becomes soiled, scuffed and marred, theeby presenting an unsatisfactory appearance to the tra e.

Therefore, one of the principal objects of the present invention is the provision of a paper band nonremovably applied to the inner surface of the bag, whereby its exposed surface constituting the printing surface is protected by the overlying strands of the bag material and even under rough usage remains comparatively unsoiled and undamaged.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a paper band constituting a printing surface nonremovably adhered to the inner surface beneath the open mesh of the bag material, the strand material being such that, following the printing operation, the printed matter is clearly and plainly visible.

A further important object of this invention is the provision of a strip or band of paper or the like adapted to encircle the inner surface of an open mesh bag secured by a water-insoluble adhesive, and of a nature not only adapted to form a printing surface clearly displaying the printed matter impressed thereon and on the mesh formation of the bag, but without to any material extent adding to the weight or the productive cost of the bag.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of an encircling printing surface band on the inner surface of an open mesh bag with its free ends secured to the meeting edges of the bag material by and bound within a form of stitching adapted to prevent tearing loose of the ends under moisture saturation con ditions, the scufiing and tearing of the band being pre vented by the protective bag material, the strands of which likewise preventing to a great extent the marring and soiling of the band and the printed indicia thereon.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several figures, of which:

2,705,517 Patented Apr. 5, 1955 ICC Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the bag and the printing surface.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal section taken on the line II--II of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-section taken on the line III-III of Fig. 1

Fig. 4 is a View of a portion of a modified form of material constituting the printing surface.

Therefore, it was to overcome the above referred to disadvantages of the band superimposed on the outside of open mesh bags by the provision of a high wetstrength and flexible quality paper bland, and which, if desired, may also include stretching properties, secured to and encircling the inner surface of the bag, with its ends secured by and within the stitching uniting the meeting edges of the bag, and secured to the contacting surface of the bag by a water-insoluble adhesive, said paper providing not only an improved printing surface, but constituting an economy over the closer woven threads of cotton or other fiber, and at the same time, if desired, being of a quality to permit stretching and other movement of the fabric to which it is attached, that I provided the printing surface and means for attachment for open mesh bags forming the subject matter of this invention.

ln the ilustrated embodiment characterizing this invention there is shown a loose weave or mesh fabric bag A comprising an open mesh body 1 constructed of strands of paper yarns, jute, cotton, or other suitable fibers, for holding, displaying, and Ventilating fruits, vegetables, and the like.

The bag A, in the present instance, is constructed by folding the body portion 1 as at 2 and then folding the bottom and the side meeting edges 3 upon them selves, and uniting the same by a binding over-stitching 4.

A strip or band of paper B constituting the improved printing surface 5, of a length corresponding to that of the body portion 1 before it is folded, is superimposed on said body and folded therewith inwardly with its ends 3- and edges 3 secured by and within said overstitching 4 which binds and interlocks the ends of said band and said edges 3 simultaneously with the stitching of the bag. lt will thus be seen that the band will be held in such secured position underlying and encircling the inner surface of the bag. However, in order to prevent tearing and to preserve under wet and soggy conditions said band and to maintain the latter secured in intimate contact with the inner surface of the mesh bag, a water-insoluble adhesive is suitably interposed between the contacting surfaces of the bag and band.

The' respective bands B may be of different colors, preferably contrasting with the color of the particular bag to which it is attached, so as to more effectively display the design or printed characters 6 impressed on the bag strands and solid surface 5, and also to form different backgrounds.

Said band B constituting the printing surface 5, is constructed from a paper having flexibility and a high wetstrength quality, so that the tendency of said band to become torn and damaged under wet and soggy conditions by the handling of the bag is substantially eliminated. However, if desired, said paper band may additionally include stretchable characteristics, such as for instance a crinkled formation 7, shown as a modification in Fig. 4, said formation giving to the paper a certain elasticity, allowing for stretching and other movements of said fabric body 1, so that the tendency of the surface ele ment to become torn and damaged by handling of the bag is substantially overcome.

While one of the principal features of the instant invention is the provision of a flat surface constituting a solid background for the printed characters to insure their being clearly displayed, yet incident thereto the invention embodies other important features.

Said band B encircling the inner surface of the bag substantially central of its length and with its free ends integrally united with the bag structure by and within the binding stitching 4, the breaking away thereof at such location under wet conditions is substantially prevented, and in view of its tenacity, in addition to providing the desired printing surface, said band constitutes a reinforcing element at a point where the stresses incident to handling are pronounced, especially when the bags are carried at that point as is often the case.

It will be particularly noted that said stitching 4 functions as a guard to protect the folded or rolled edge of the paper, and consequently, the encasing stitching substantially precludes contact of the paper with extraneous objects. This structural seam atrangement forms a solid bead 8 substantially impervious to the effect of moisture, and the stresses of the band are against the inner bag surface and the bead rather than the stitching, and which substantially overcomes the tearing loose of the material at the seams, and especially under wet conditions.

While I have preferably described the printing surface as encircling the inner surface of the bag, it is to be understood that if desired in connection with certain usage of the bag, said surface may be suitably attached to said inner surface without completely encircling the bag, and said surface may be composed of'other materials, such as certain types of fabrics, plastic, rubber compound, and the like, having the requisite' characteristics without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Further, open mesh bags banded beneath the mesh bag material which has become water soaked and after being dragged and subjected to rough handling have not been greatly affected in appearance. Likewise, filled bags so banded left out in all kinds of weather-rain, snow, ice and sunshine-have shown no ill-effects from such exposure.

It will be further noted that in connection with the mesh material of these bags and the underlying band, that when subjected to theprinting operation, the impression or printed indicia stands out clear and sharp, the mesh strands being barely discernable, and from a short distance not at all.

In this connection it will be apparent that material advantages accure by attaching the solid printing surface beneath the open mesh bag material, which not only protects the surface of the band against marring, and greatly decreases the soiling effect of handling a filled bag under wet and other varying weather conditions, but also prevents scuffing and tearing of the edges of the band by contact with rough surfaces and projecting objects, thereby increasing the effective life of the band and maintaining its appearance and that of the bag under rough and continued usage.

From the above, it will be apparent that I have provided a printing surface comprising a band of material adapted to encircle the inner surface of an open mesh fabric bag, adapted to be fixedly attached thereto during the formation of the bag, said material constituting a reinforcement for the bag without adding substantially to its weight or production cost, said surface adapted to clearly display the printed characters impressed thereon and on the overlying mesh strands, by virtue of the protection afforded by said strands, the usage incident to the handling of the bag, and without materially effecting the visibitity of its contents or the ventilation thereof.

Although in practice I have found that the form of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and referred to in the above description as the preferred embodiment, is the most eicient and practical; yet realizing that conditions concurrent with the adoption of my invention will necessarily vary,I desire to emphasize that various minor -changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts, may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from or sacrificing any of the principles of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire protected by Letters Patent is as set forth in the following claims:

S l. A bag formed from a piece of open mesh material folded upon itself and secured along its meeting edges by stitching, a paper band underlying the inner surface of the bag and having a printing surface next to the inner surface of the bag for clearly displaying through the open the meshes of the bag when viewed from any direction, the adjacent edges of the bag and band being folded` upon themselves in a manner to form a bead, said stitching encasing the bead, said stitching constituting a guard structure for the bead to prevent contact of the paper with extraneous objects, and said band being permanently secured to the inner surface of the bag throughout its contacting surface.

2. A bag formed from a piece of open mesh material folded upon itself and secured along its meeting edges by over-stitching, a paper band on the inner surface of the bag forming a printing surface next to the inner surface of the bag for clearly displaying through the meshes of the bag the desired indicia impressed thereon and on the outer surface of said bag, said band having high wetstrength quality and stretchable characteristics and a Width substantially less than that of the inner surface of the bag to which the band is secured, so that contents of the bag remains visible through the meshes of the bag when viewed from any direction, the adjacent edges kof the bag and band being folded upon themselves in a manner to form a bead, a stitching encasing the bead to prevent contact of the paper with extraneous objects, and said band being permanently secured to said inner surface of the bag throughout its contacting surface by a water-insoluble adhesive.

3. An open mesh bag adapted to display its contents kfrom all sides comprising a bag body formed of strands of material defining open meshes and having meeting edges, stitches securing the meeting edges together, and a paper band encircling the inner surface of the open mesh bag body and permanently adhered thereto, the said paper band having its ends together with the bag material folded to form a bead, said bead being encased by said stitching for preventing the ends of the band from tearing loose under moisture-saturation conditions, the said strands of material constituting protective means for the band for preventing scuing and tearing of the band, the said band presenting an encircling printing surface on the inner surface of the open mesh bag body for unobstructedly displaying through the said open meshes printing matter impressed on the said surface of the band, the said band being suiciently narrow to permit viewing of the contents of the bag through its open meshes from any direction.

4. A bag of the character described made of open v mesh fabric and unlined and through which mesh the contents of the bag are visible and ventilated, and a piece of paper of a size considerably smaller than a face of the bag adhesively secured to the inside surface of said face of the bag, said piece of paper having a printing surface facing outwardly and printing impressed on both said printing surface of the piece of paper and on the outer surfaces of the bag strands where the piece of paper is adhesively secured thereto, the printed impression being continuous on said paper printing surface and overlying bag strands.

5. The method of labeling an unlined bag of open mesh strands through which mesh the contents of the bag are visible and ventilated, which method includes adhesively securing an unprinted paper label to the inside surface of a face of the bag, and printing the outwardly facing surface of the paper label and the bag strands on said surface simultaneously, whereby the complete label on the bag is composed of both the printed paper label and the printed strands.

6. A bag of the character described made of open mesh fabric and unlined and through which mesh the contents of the bag are visible and ventilated, and a piece of paper of a size considerably smaller than a face of the bag adhesively secured to the inside surface of said face of the bag, said piece of paper having a printing surface facing outwardly and a printing imprint on and common to the outer face of the paper and the outer surfaces of the overlying bag strands, said printing on the paper and on the bag strands making a continuous pattern.

(References on following page) 5 References Cited in the le of this patent 1,805,327 UNITED STATES PATENTS ggg 598,537 Rosenzweig Feb. 8, 1898 2,087,572 686,847 Green Nov. 19, 1901 5 2,122,043 723,282 Jessen et al. Mar 24, 1903 2,127,012 807,011 Arkell Dec. l2, 1905 2,398,257 1,078,682 Jagenberg Nov. 18, 1913 2,416,747 1,693,266 Baldwin Nov. 27, 1928 2,433,663 1,702,593 Pierce Feb. 19, 1929 10 2,437,184

6 Carr May 12, 1931 Armstrong Sept. 15, 1931 Pierce Dec. 1, 1931 Gastrich July 20, 1937 Pollard June 28, 1938 Spangler et al Aug. 16, 1938 Schwartz Apr. 19, 1946 Geiner Mar. 4, 1947 Hanson Dec. 20, 1947 Brady et al. Mar. 2, 1948 

